The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 239,210 voters participated in the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), representing about 15 per cent of the 1,680,315 registered voters.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Acting Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, the Commission said the elections were held to fill chairmanship positions in the six Area Councils as well as 62 councillorship seats across the territory.
INEC disclosed that while results for most of the Area Councils were concluded late on Saturday, the declaration of the Kuje Area Council result was delayed until approximately 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Commission attributed the delay to the challenging terrain in Kabi Ward, which slowed the final collation of results.
The electoral body further revealed that as of 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, about 93 per cent of polling unit results had been successfully uploaded to its Result Viewing (IReV) portal for public access.February 21, 2026
“Residents of the FCT and other interested members of the public can view results from all six Area Councils on the portal,” the statement said.
Responding to allegations circulating in some quarters, INEC firmly dismissed claims that voters were transferred to new polling units without notice.
“Contrary to claims that some voters were migrated to new polling units different from their original polling units, the Commission states categorically that no voter migration took place,” INEC said.
The Commission clarified that what occurred was the creation of split polling units in locations where registered voters exceeded 1,250, a measure aimed at decongesting overcrowded centres and improving operational efficiency.
According to INEC, the newly created split polling units were situated only a few metres away from the original polling units and remained within the same premises.
To ensure transparency, the Commission explained that the Register of Voters was displayed at designated centres and at the split polling units four days before the election, allowing voters to verify their details and polling locations. It added that affected voters also received text messages and emails between February 18 and 21, indicating their specific voting units.
“These messages were issued solely as reminders to assist voters in locating their designated polling units,” the Commission noted.
Providing further updates on election-day operations, INEC disclosed that by 8:30 a.m., approximately 45 per cent of polling units had opened for voting, while all units were fully operational by 10:00 a.m. The Commission, however, acknowledged that some voters initially experienced difficulty locating their polling units.
On voter turnout, INEC admitted that voter apathy remains a concern but highlighted a notable improvement compared to previous elections.
“In the 2022 Area Council elections, a total of 148,685 voters participated, representing 9.4 per cent of registered voters. In the 2026 election, turnout increased to over 239,210 voters, accounting for approximately 15 per cent of registered voters in the FCT,” the Commission stated.
INEC described the level of participation across the six Area Councils as a sign of sustained public engagement in democratic governance and growing confidence in the electoral process. The Commission also commended residents of the FCT for their peaceful conduct, cooperation, and participation throughout the election period.